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Some U.S. Bound Wide-Loads to See Delays at Peace Bridge

A construction project is set to being Wednesday along the Peace Bride, connecting the U.S. and Canada, running through the end of November and affecting certain wide-load traffic.

(Photo by Óðinn via Wikimedia Commons)

The Peace Bridge Authority is widening the approach to the U.S. plaza, opening up the currently narrow area where trucks and cars converge. As a result, the traffic lanes on the bridge that are currently 12 feet wide will be reduced to 11 feet and the center lane to 10 and a half feet.

While regular truck traffic will be unaffected, this will impact how wide loads are processed, according to the Ontario Trucking Association.

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It will be more important than ever that all wide loads check in prior to accessing the bridge. This is not currently an issue as the Peace Bridge Authority reports all 10 and a half foot loads currently stopping and waiting for PBA staff to release them. What will be different is how PBA staff process loads between 11 feet and 12 feet. Currently any loads under 12’ feet that are not overweight cross with regular truck traffic.

Beginning on or about April 15 the center lane of the bridge will need to be closed for all trucks between 11 feet and 12 feet and over.

The current “traffic management fee” applied to all wide loads 12 feet and above will not be applied to trucks between 11 feet and 12 feet, as long as they are not over 117,000 lbs.

There may be a delay for trucks between 11 feet and-12 feet, based on the traffic conditions, according to OTA.